With hearts full of joy and hope, we celebrate the remarkable work begun in 2022 by the Truth and Reparations Task Force. The passion, dedication, and focused work to initiate repair and healing has laid a strong and vital foundation for our journey toward realizing reparations and racial justice in the Diocese of Virginia. Building on this strong beginning, the members of the Standing Committee and I recognize the need to re-form and refresh the Task Force to focus on the next crucial phase of our work. To ensure a dynamic and inclusive process, we will soon launch an open call for nominations for new members of the Task Force while retaining the valuable experience of several existing members. The renewed Truth and Reparations Task Force, in close collaboration with the Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing, will continue to be guided by the principles of justice, repentance, reconciliation, and community involvement–committed to the work of education, listening, and mending.
These principles are highlighted in a video resource created by the Task Force – I commend it to you for your use in this important ministry.
The Diocese of Virginia’s commitment to racial justice and healing remains unwavering. We acknowledge the profound harm caused by our historical complicity in chattel slavery, colonialism, violence against Indigenous peoples, segregation, and systemic racism. As we move forward, guided by the spirit of the 2021 Resolution R10A, we will continue to identify and address the burdens of injustice faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The Truth and Reparations Task Force – with oversight from the Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing, and in collaboration with the Executive Board, Standing Committee, and me – will work diligently to fulfill its responsibilities: developing educational resources, visiting regions, churches and communities to identify community needs, cultivating spiritual practices, ensuring community inclusion, developing the initial investment fund with the Trustees of the Funds and Executive Board, and sharing its work transparently with the Diocese. We are excited about the future and committed to the journey of discovery, collaboration, justice, and transformative action in the Diocese of Virginia.
May God bless us all through and in this work.
Love Jesus. Embody justice. Be disciples.
The Rt. Rev. E. Mark Stevenson